Balance level



v 1,590,136 w. A. VALENTINE, SR

June- 22 ,1926.

BALANCE LEVEL Filed Feb. 19. 1925 INVENTOR ZU. J, /alen be 57:

A'VIORMYS WITNESSES Patented June Z2, 1926,

UNIT-ED STATESY PATENT OFFICE.

:BALANCE LEVEL. i

Application led February 19,l 1925-. Serial No. 10,399.

This invention relates to levels used by carpenters and other workmen and has for an object to provide an improvedvconstructionV wherein not only the horizontal and vertical may be ascertained but substantially any angle from a horizontal.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a level wherein al weighted pointer is provided, the arrangement being such that a plurality of projections are presented and associated with a specially prepared Vdial for indicating at two points the angle of the level.

A further object of the invention, more specifically, is to provide a balance level wherein a swinging pointer is provided and means for mounting the same provided with an adjusting structure to accurately adjust the parts so that the pointer will always accurately indicate the correct angle of the level.

In the accompanying drawing- Y Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a level embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through ure 1, approximately on line 2-2.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure i is a front view of the pointer shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, 1 indicates the body of the level which is provided with parallel straight edges 2 and 3. A bore d is provided in body 1, said bore having a flaring opening 5 on one face and an enlarged opening or recess 6 on the opposite. face. Positioned in the bore 41: is what may be termed al casing 7 which casing is externally threaded for part of its depth and is provided with a comparatively thick bottom 3 accommodating the screw 9, which screw has a combined extension 1() acting as a pivotal pin for the pointer l1. The bottom 8 is prorigr vided with a flange 12, which flange is shown as provided with two apertures for accommodating the retaining screws 13 and 14 and an aperture or slot 15 for accommodating the retaining and usting screw 16. vWhen the casing 7 is first mounted in the body l, one of the screws 13 and 14 is first applied as shown in Figure 3, after which, the casing is swung on this screw until the pointer 11 is properly set, after which, screw 16 is tightened and then the other screw, as for instance, screw 14C, is applied, whereby the casing is locked `against accidental shifting. The sleeve 17,4 is screwed onto the threaded portion of casing 7, said sleeve having a turned over annular flange 18 whereby' the protecting transparent mem ber 19 is clamped in position as shown in Figure 2 in order to prevent dust and objectionable matter from ente'ringcasing 7 and interfering with the proper action of pointer l1. The pointer 11 is preferably made from metal which is comparatively thinfand is formed with a hollow coneshaped central projection 20 which accommodates the pin 10 whereby the pointer 11 may be free to move substantially in any direction and will, consequently, properly swing to indicate the angle of the body 1 at all times. The pointer 11 is provided with pointing fingers 21, 22, 23 and 24. It will be noted that ngers 21 and 23 are diametrically opposite and also fingers 22 and 24 are diametrically opposite.V

ln order to secure the advantage of these various fingers, a dial 25 is applied to the inner surface .of bottom 8 and is formed with various graduations 26 whichv show duplicate marking on diametrically opposite sides. As indicated in Figure l, there are two numbers indicating ninety degrees, two numbers indicating forty-five degrees and two numbers indicating zero. It is, of course, evident that a greater or even less number of legends may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention and the diametrically opposite fingers caused to properly function therewith. As the4 pointer 11 is located in Figure 1, Vit would indicate that the surfaces 2 and 3 are eX- actly horizontal. If the level should be appreciably below the eye, the workman Vmay readily look through glass 9 and observe the 90 which will indicate to him that the surfaces 2 and 3 are horizontal. If the level should be an appreciable distance above the head and it is necessary for the workman to look upwardly, the top 90 would be seen as wellas certain other numbers. Where the level is to the right or left of the workman, he may look towards the pointer 11 and will see the graduations on scale 25 at the remotest point from him. This double marking on the dial 25 permits ready read ing from different positions and does not, therefore, necessitate the workman to be directly in front of the pointer.

In forming the pointer 11, thelower part to point horizontally. When the level is'o 1 be used, it is designed to be used in the ordinary manner of levels novv on the In'leiletA and instead of observing ythe bubble, the

vvoikinn noi'eesfhepointer 11 v21nd in iv'y zips'certfiin Whethei` or not the part-s r at the desired angle which could not be seeuied with the usual bubble level level, eompii'sing body, si casing re- Inovably mounted in the b'ofdy, dil carried by said easing, L pivotal pin zie'nding from one part of the casing, a Weighted pointer loosely,mou-nted'onv `said pin, said pointer being formed of sheet metal and having a centrally positioned cone with the open end positioned Yso that said pin will piojeet n't'o' the-'eene for supporting the pointer, and a covering transparent panel cairidb'y vthe 'sig positioned nel the apex vof the Coffe' when the pziits i in opi s eizitive position vvhefeby poiniie is pei*-A init-ted L free s vviliging'rinovement but is prevent-ed fiom' inovi'g o'ii of sind pin;

WILLM A. VALENTIN-E; SR; 

